Don’t worry: this handsome 1989 Ford Bronco XLT is already on its way out of hiding, despite looking like it was destined to spend the next several years locked away in storage. The 1980s Ford Bronco is coming into its own as a desirable-to-own squarebody, so as such, they don’t tend to stay in storage for long once discovered. The seller claims this example in Washington State has been owned by a certified Ford technician since 1994 (it’s possible it’s the seller himself he’s describing), and that it has been steadfastly maintained in that time with all service intervals adhered to. Find the Bronco here on eBay where bidding is at $6,100 with no reserve.
The Bronco looks sharp pulled out of the garage, although this photo benefits from the effect that the “wet look” has on black vehicles. A photo of the hood shows that most of the paint has been burnt off, which isn’t a bad look but it doesn’t jive with the rest of the truck. The wheels look like period-correct aftermarkets – American Racing, perhaps? – and they’re a perfect accessory for a 4×4 of this vintage. The body panels appear to be straight and there’s no evidence of rust in the rockers, at least on the driver’s side. Broncos of this era are also prone to rot in the rear fenders but it doesn’t appear to be an issue on this specimen. The Bronco lives in Washington State, which is an incredibly hospitable place for older vehicles like this.
Drop the tailgate and you’ll find a cargo area that’s good, not great. It has dirt and stains commensurate with age and mileage, and may even clean up well after some time is spent with a steam cleaner. The Bronco retains its original spare tire and cover, and overall, it’s hard to fault from an originality standpoint. Aside from the easily-amended aftermarket wheel and tire combination, there’s little else to be concerned with if you’re obsessive over finding a truck with no alterations from stock. The seller reports that the Bronco rides on a four-inch lift with 35-inch tires, both of which are a fairly common upgrade for a starter-grade off-road rig.
The interior presents well, showing clean cloth upholstery on the seats and a backseat that looks like it’s barely been used. The seller notes that the Bronco benefits from lots of maintenance over its life, including big jobs like the transmission being rebuilt 25,000 miles ago. Though the truck has developed a pan gasket leak since sitting, he further notes that the radiator, water pump, thermostat, heater core, and hoses have all been previously replaced. Other major components replaced over the years include the power steering pump, brake master, door lock actuators, fuel pump, and more. Overall, this looks like a great entry point into Bronco ownership without any of the rust or years’ worth of neglect that typically come with old squarebody projects.
To follow up on the Bronco ll, that I, and others obviously didn’t care for, THIS Bronco was exactly a 180, I loved my full-size Bronco. THIS was a Ford truck, my 1980 had the distinction of being one of the few vehicles my ex-wife couldn’t kill. I shudder to think what she would have done to a Bronco ll. What she did to my S-10 Blazer might be clue. They didn’t take abuse well.
One the other hand,,,she had warts,,,HA! No, the full size Bronco was simply the best vehicle I had, besides my Western Star, that is. Simple bulletproof motors and drivetrain, plenty of room, dynamite heater, comfy interiors,not much could stop it,,okay, single digit mpg with all the shafts spinning, but hey, in America, you get what you pay for, and there’s nothing better in 4wd than a full size 80’s Bronco. This one is a bit crusty, but a lot been done. Like my squarebody, this could be the last truck you’ll ever buy.
Barn Finds should give your ex-wife equal time. I, for one, would enjoy hearing her side of the story!
Trust me, you don’t. Of the many cars we had, she ruined just about everyone. She was an outstanding mother, couldn’t have asked for a better, but mechanical things just didn’t agree with her. Need I make a list?
I had an ’85 Bronco and I really liked it. Felt no need to lift it any higher than it was already but a lot of them were lifted just the same. Sure made ’em top-heavy. Mine was a good truck overall. Didn’t like the rust in the rear fenders or the tailgate. I had the 351 (5.8) HO with a Holley 4bbl carb (I’m sure this one would be EFI). I understand that HO stood for High Output. I would hate to see the Low Output version because mine was no powerhouse. All things aside I would actually like to find another one. I turned mine over to the oldest boy who drove it for a couple of years before selling it to help buy his way out of a brush with the law. It went through several owners before I lost track of it. Good things never last…
I thought the “HO” stood for the “High Output Heater”. Fuel injection really did change everything. I had the carb equipped, 300-6 cyl., a great motor, btw, but not too efficient. A friend had a newer pickup with 300, F.I., I couldn’t believe the difference.
Shows sold for $8211.00.
Couldn’t agree with Howard and geomechs more. My oldest boy drove the heck out of a 85 Bronco with 351. Even tried to jump across a inlet to Farmington lake one night, half submerged when I got there. It and the 55 Ford I brought ( 4x4converted) together got it on a sandbar and out. Drained all parts, it ran for another couple years. I’ve got an 95 Eddie Bauer short 4×4 now that has served our family well since 97. Great heater.
I had one for a plow truck. Mine was a hair newer with a FI 5.0 engine. Loved it!
Had a few others I sold through the car lot, including a decent ’95 with 5.0 & 5 speed. That one was very solid, not all of them were. One thing about all of them…none of them had functioning tailgates lol. The windows were all stuck in the up position. Ya can’t open the tailgate if the window is up.
This one has pictures of the tailgate down. To me, that is a real plus lol.